WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
: The metric system is the legal standard, but older Spanish units and the
imperial system are still employed. The standard unit of land measure is
the caballería (13.4 hectares/133.1 acres).

HOLIDAYS
: Day of the Revolution, Liberation Day, 1 January; Labor Day, 1 May;
Anniversary of the Revolution, 25–27 July; Proclamation of Yara, 10
October. Celebration of religious holidays falling during the work week
was prohibited by a 1972 law.

TIME
: 7
AM
= noon GMT.

ETHNIC GROUPS

According to the 1998 estimates, mulattos constitute 51% of the total
Cuban population. Whites (primarily of Spanish descent) make up about
37% of the total; blacks account for 11%; and Chinese for 1%. Virtually
the entire population is native-born Cuban.

LANGUAGES

Spanish is the national language of Cuba.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The country is divided into 14 provinces and 169 municipalities. The
Isla de la Juventud is a special municipality. The 1976 constitution
provides for a system of municipal assemblies to be elected for 2-year
terms by direct universal suffrage at age 16. Municipal assemblies
choose delegates to provincial assemblies and deputies to the National
Assembly. The most recent municipal elections were held in January 1998.

TAXATION

A 1962 tax code instituted a sharply progressive income tax as well as a
surface transport tax, property transfer tax, documents tax, consumer
goods tax, and a tax on capital invested abroad.

CUSTOMS AND DUTIES

Cuba's average weighted tariff in 1997 (the most recent year the
World Bank could gather statistics) was 8.1%. However, Cuba also
maintains significant non-tariff barriers to trade. Required government
inspection of imports and corrupt customs officials are among the worst
factors.